Best gadgets of 2010

Gadgets and Gizmos ranks some of the best gadgets launched in the market through 2010.

Phone of the year

HTC DESIRE (Rs 26,500)
Last year, HTC's Hero bagged the phone of the year. This year, HTC again wins the top slot with yet another Android offering. There are good phones around, but the HTC Desire is the smartest of the lot. It brings to the table the latest version of Android, the Froyo or v2.2, on one of the best pieces of hardware. The 3.7-inch AMOLED display, flawless touch interface, 1GHz processor, HTC Sense user interface, 576 MB RAM and the ability to download applications on the memory card ensure the Desire fulfils all the wishes of a phone user.

Camera Phone Of The Year

NOKIA N8 (Rs 24,000)
A 12 MP camera lens in a cell phone isn't path breaking. The milestone was achieved last year when Samsung and Sony Ericsson launched the Pixon 12 and the Satio. But look at pictures captured by the Nokia N8 and you will know why it is the camera phone of the year. The impressive shots can also be edited on the phone to complete a total photography experience. Besides, the N8 adeptly does the work of a camcorder in capturing video at 720p resolution.

Runner Up

MOTOROLA XT720 (Rs 26,199)
This phone has an 8 MP camera, 720p video recording with dedicated indicators. Besides, you can view the images on a bigger screen using an HDMI cable.

Smart Phone Of The Year

SAMSUNG GALAXY S (Rs 28,000)
The Samsung Galaxy S has to be the smartphone of the year. Operating on the Android platform, it is powered by an impressive1 GHz processor that boosts its push email support, touch interface, 5 MP camera, etc. And don't forget, it also has a sleek body and Super AMOLED display.

Runner Up

MOTOROLA MILESTONE (Rs 24,000)
The Motorola Milestone is a perfect Android phone with a slide-out keypad on Android v2.1.

Music Phone Of The Year

APPLE iPHONE 3GS (Rs 35,500)
Rivalling the music experience offered by Apple iPod Touch is the company's very own iPhone 3G S. Launched last year in the USA, it officially launched in India in March 2010. Along with its superb sound, it affords downloads of applications from the App Store to go along with the music. The only drawback with the phone is its inability to drag and drop the music to the phone. But for audiophiles, that's only a minor hitch.

Runner Up

SONY ERICSSON ZYLO (Rs 8,000)
Although, Sony Ericsson failed to make it to the top, it came up with a good-looking music device. This slider phone offers a great sound output and has features such as Sense Me, Shake Control, TrackID music recognition, etc.

Affordable Phone of the year

SAMSUNG CHAMP (Rs 4,000)
The touch fever has been on for quite some time now. But it still hadn't reached the entry-level segment until Samsung launched the Champ. It may be affordable, but it hasn't cut corners with the touch technology and the 2.4-inch resistive touch display responds well to the stylus. The good looks are complemented by the company's own user interface, the Touch Wiz Lite, which allows division of the homescreen into multiple windows and facilitates shortcuts.

Runner Up

MICROMAX Q7 (Rs 3,950)
Micromax was among the first home players to come up with a BlackBerry lookalike and the Q7 packed in almost all good features. Opera Mini, Nimbuzz and GPRS connectivity are normal in cell phones from domestic players but Q7 was the first one offering Wi-Fi connectivity for below Rs 5,000.

Innovative Phone of the Year

ZEN S30 (Rs 4,599)
If you thought 3D technology was only meant for televisions and laptops, you are wrong. Recently Spice Mobile launched India's first 3D handset on which 3D content can be viewed without glasses. Unfortunately, the lack of content gave meant Zen scoring over it with its S30. It comes loaded with images and videos that can be viewed without glasses on the 2.4-inch display. You can also extend the 3D view to the homescreen and main menu. If you wish, you can switch to the 2D view anytime. This new-tech phone is priced below Rs 5,000.

Runner Up

MICROMAX MODU (Rs 10,500)
The Modu is a compact phone that comes with "jackets"that change it into different gadgets. If you, for instance, use the camera jacket, it gets imaging capabilities. Similarly, the Sportify jacket makes it a workout device. QWERTY and music dock jackets are on the way.

Camcorder of the year

SONY XR550E (Rs 59,990)
Sony takes the top honours in a segment that did not offer too many products this year. The XR550E is good for all-round use-documentaries, home movies or celebrations. It supports Full HD movie recording and has a massive 240 GB built-in hard drive for storing the footage. The 3.5-inch touchscreen is bright and crisp. The Sony machine also supports 5.1 channel audio recording and has a shoe to attach an external light source as well. Despite packing in so much, it is incredibly light.

Runner Up

SAMSUNG H200 (Rs 21,900)
This is an affordable HD video camera that uses SD cards to store media. It is small, light and can record ultra sharp videos. Additonally, it can zoom in 20 times (optical) to bring the farthest objects very close. A great performer with good features.

Tablet of the year

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB (Rs 38,000)
This is the best tablet to date in the Indian market. Samsung has sold over 600,000 units of this tab worldwide since its launch. It is sleek, sexy and fabulous to work on. The touchscreen responds exceptionally well to every tap, swipe or scroll. The Android platform and a super 1 GHz cortex processor add zing to the tablet. Samsung has bundled lots of cool applications on its 16 GB memory-with the option to download more from the online store. Other tabs also have these features but it is the 3 MP camera of the Galaxy-which records HD videos-that puts it ahead of them.

Runner Up

DELL STREAK (Rs 35,000)
Streak gets the runner up award in the tablet category because of its sleek design and super quick performance. It is small and easily fits in your jacket pockets. You really don't need a personal assistant when you have this neat Android tablet with you.

Netbook of the year

SAMSUNG N210 (Rs 20, 952)
Last year, netbooks were so in vogue that we had to create a new category for them in the rankings list. The winner this year is the Samsung N210. The spec sheet looks similar to that of the competition, but what makes it the best netbook is its astounding battery life of over 10 hours. With it, the user will never fall short of power.

Runner Up

ACER ASPIRE ONE 532H 3G (Rs 19,499)
Just when we thought Acer had lost its way in the netbook jungle, it bounced back with its upgraded Aspire One series. It added 3G capability to it. Although the looks remain the same as that of its predecessor, the 532H 3G runs untiringly with an astounding battery life of 9.5 hours. It also scored well in our benchmark tests to prove its mettle.

Desktop of the year

ALIENWARE AURORA (Rs 1.4 lakh upwards)
This PC is virtually the god of all PCs. In fact, we would say this is the PC of the year. We have never seen so much artillery in a single machine from a PC manufacturer. Alienware is rather new in India, but has taken impressive steps in the segment. Aurora has everything that a user, gamer, Internet addict or a graphic artist would want from a machine-over 12 GB of RAM, a turbo quick Intel processor and not one but dual graphics cards.

Runner Up

APPLE iMAC 27 INCHES (Rs 1,06,900)
Let's be honest-all iMacs are good looking. No matter what people say about them they are built for only one thing: the best performance. Apple released another slim 27- inch powerhouse for work and rendering.

Laptop of the year

SONY VAIO Z (Rs 1,59,900)
Last years the top laptops were Dell's Adamo and Apple's Macbook. This time the Japanese company launched a machine that didn't give us a single reason to complain. Its best-in-class configuration and super-speedy performance make it the dream machine for every geek. It boasts a Core i7 processor, 4 SSDs and 8GB DDR3 RAM. No wonder, the execution of all light and heavy programs was fast.

Runner Up

ALIENWARE MX11 (Rs 43,200)
The Alienware M11X is a one-of-its-kind machine in the ultra-portable category and has the looks to kill. The performance too is a thing to talk about.

3D TV of the year

SAMSUNG UA40C7000 (Rs 1.3 lakh)
2010 has been defined by 3D televisions. But nothing measured up to the superior picture quality of Samsung's 7 series 40-inch beauty. This TV can play stereoscopic 3D content, turn regular 2D stream into 3D and give the user a chance to browse the Web. The LED backlighting enhances the image and the contrast is fabulous. A pair of Active 3D glasses also come bundled with the TV. Moreover, within its slim size, Samsung managed to accommodate 4 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports.

Runner Up

PANASONIC P50VT20D (Rs 1.99 lakh)
Panasonic also brought out a very good 3D plasma TV. This one measured 50 inches and could play stereoscopic 3D content. It is also Internet ready. The picture is clear and sharp. Playing 3D content on this large 50-inch screen is a treat.

LED TV of the year

SONY BRAVIA 46NX700 (Rs 1.63 lakh)
Expect nothing but the best picture quality from this TV. The Katrina Kaif of the LED TV world, this TV is outright beautiful. The frame is black, silver and very slim. This beauty has brains too. It can be connected to the Internet using Wi-Fi. The frame holds a number of connectivity ports, including HDMI and USB to play media from. HD games and movies look exceptionally good on the 46NX700. The contrast is deep and colours, very vivid.

Runner Up

SAMSUNG C6900VR (Rs 61,000)
Samsung's 6 series 32-inch LED beat LG's offering by a hair's breadth. This television has uber hot looks and even better pictures.

HTS of the year

PHILIPS HTS 9140 SOUNDBAR (Rs 71,990)
This soundbar has all that it takes to be a winner in the home theatre system category. With a Blu-ray player neatly concealed within the design, it shows just the soundbar and a subwoofer as components to attach to the TV set. Content can be fed either via the Blu-ray slot or from USB drives. The design is compact and concise and it is 3D-ready and Wi-Fi upgradeable as well.

Runner Up

BOSE LIFESTYLE V35 (Rs 2,24,888)
This Bose 5.1 speaker system doesn't come with an audio/video player hence can't be described as a complete home entertainment solution. But it nevertheless is a performer. The powerful sound that its miniscule Jewel Cube speakers delivered was outstanding.

PMP of the year

APPLE iPOD TOUCH 32GB (Rs 19,900)
Apple outdid itself again with its 4th generation iPod Touch. Retaining the attitude, performance and elegance of the previous generation, the new player exudes class in a slimmer and sleeker avatar. Its Retina display and a faster A4 processor (seen on the iPhone4 and the iPad) enhance the overall experience. The dual camera and its slick user interface add to the fun, not to forget its utility.

Runner Up

APPLE iPOD NANO (Rs 16,700)
The new edition of the iPod Nano is the undisputed runner-up in the PMP category. It has the oomph factor and performance to boot. We really loved it for the multi-touch capabilities it brings to the table. And the fact that fashionistas can flaunt it as an accessory- it can be worn as a watch-makes it a unique PMP.

DSLR Camera of the year

CANON 7D (Rs 1.31 lakh)
A model shoot, party shots or just pictures around the tiger sanctuary? This camera is ready for any terrain. The 7D has an 18 MP sensor and comes with a15-85mm lens. The stills are sharp and devoid of digital noise. It can also capture videos in Full HD. Video zooming is still not perfect but if you make a video with just one focal point, the captured footage will leave you dazzled by its brilliance. It has speed on its side too. It can take eight images per second in the high speed mode.

Runner Up

OLYMPUS PEN-EPL1 (Rs 29,999)
This is a Micro Four Third camera. Speciality: super slim frame, a high MP rating and an interchangeable lens. It boggled us by its very impressive images. Design is chic too.

Compact Camera of the year

SONY 3D CAMERA TX9 (Rs 21,990)
When we were thinking about the winner for the popular compact category, many names were in the contention. The TX9 won because of its ability to capture images in 3D. Yes, Fujifilm took the credit for the very first compact 3D camera, but Sony is the first to offer 3D features in such a slim size. And the way this camera creates 3D panoramic images is worth a mention. It doesn't use two lenses. Instead it clicks multiple shots in quick succession and the camera software fuse these multiple shots together to give an impression of depth.

Runner Up

CANON POWERSHOT S95 (Rs 26,995)
We loved this device for the prowess it shows in doing its duty. It offers DSLR-like capabilities in a compact form factor. And whether it is bright or dark, it produces amazing images.

Gaming accessory of the year

PLAYSTATION MOVE (Rs 3,650)
In a year when a lot of activity was seen in the gaming accessories segment, it wasn't easy to latch on to something and declare it the outright winner. The Microsoft Kinect was, by far, the most exciting development, so we put it into an entirely different category. That left us with no grander product than Sony's new remote sensing gaming wand. The PlayStation Move takes the regular gamepad and moulds it into something new-a controller that uses motion sensing technology combined with optical precision that is pretty amazing. This remote-like accessory with a bulbous head is accurate and much more ergonomic than most sensitive hand-motes of the kind used in gaming.

Gaming Console of the year

XBOX 360 250 GB (Rs 21,990)
The new Xbox 360 is smaller, faster, has better graphics and can power up gesture-sensing Kinect using its own power. Its new glossy black exteriors look hot. The feather touch buttons are a good addition too. This version comes with a remote that can turn the console on wirelessly. Wi-Fi comes on board, making updates of games and console firmware an easy task. The number of USB ports has also been increased. Hearteningly, this Xbox 360 consumes less power than earlier ones. The hard drive has been boosted to 250 GB. (A 4GB edition comes bundled with the Kinect.)

Game of the year

MAFIA 2 FOR PC (Rs 499)
Mafia 2 is the hands down winner among games this year. This game is awesome in every aspect. The story is very engrossing and portrays all the highs and lows of a gangster's life. The graphics are beautiful and the cars, character details and city sceneries are etched to perfection. You just don't want to get out of this game. The dialogue delivery of the characters impresses, as do the cut scenes. This game is easy to get used to and most missions let you roam around the city freely. The American era of 1943-1951 has been wonderfully described and showcased. What is more, the PC version of Mafia 2 is not exorbitantly priced, at least for a game of this stature and worth.

Innovation of the year

MICROSOFT KINECT (Rs 9,990)
We are calling this the innovation of the year, but it could well be the innovation of the decade. Microsoft has opened the flood gates for Minority Report and Avatar style computer navigation by making a sensor that recognises body gestures and reinterpreting them for the computer. While the world jumped on to the touch bandwagon, Microsoft moved away from tactile stimuli.

Its reasoning: Why a touch screen or a remote in your hand when your body can be the controller, especially when gaming? The result was Kinect. It impressively detects body and hand movements-which you can see being played back by your screen avatar-and uses them to initiate different actions in game play. But the Kinect has a life beyond the XBox. It has also made possible computer and TV navigation without the aid of a keyboard, mouse or joypad.